Tijuana Border: How to Cross in 60 seconds

29 comments

• jackslash

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  8 years ago

  I get across the border in 20 seconds by climbing over the fence.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Sounds very interesting, all things considered :) [view link] [view link] [view link] Thanks, SJG Pictures At An Exhibition - The Great Gate Of Kiev [view link] Arranged for 4 manual organ by Richard Zipf (2013). Performance on Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ using Palace of Arts Budapest Pipe Organ Sound Sample Set (Gravissimo sCSA). Original MIDI sequence by Mauricio Estevez. [view link]
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  SJG and others : the link you provided is accurate for SENTRI pricing, but the price for a Global Entry card is only $100 for 5 years.
• Papi_Chulo

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  8 years ago

  I use a coyote.
• vincemichaels

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  8 years ago

  Got a spare one for me, Papi?? Thanks for the info, WetWilly.
• nemesisk7

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  8 years ago

  why would i wanna go back if mexico is pussy heaven ?
• Estafador

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  8 years ago

  the GOES doesn't sound like a deal compared to SENTRI. What' the benefit of one over the other? BESIDES not having to pay every year with a GOES card.
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  Estafador, Global Entry, as the name implies, is for Global Travel, and is much broader in its features than the SENTRI card. SENTRI is primarily used for land crossings in North America (Mexico and Canada). If you currently travel inside the USA, THE Global Entry card has an important feature caked TSA pre check, to save you lots of time in domestic flights as well. Other differences are that you have to have a passport to get Global Entry (but not for SENTRI). With Global Entry you pay the fees up front before you know if you've been accepted (while with SENTRI you pay an application fee, and if accepted, you pay the rest). The overall cost of SENTRI is about $20 more, though. Also, for Global Entry, you have to be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (or a resident of a small list of other countries), while for SENTRI, you just have to have legal entry documents to the US. Both the Global Entry and SENTRI are paid in 5 year periods. The SENTRI is more expensive.
• Bavarian

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  8 years ago

  Thanks WetWilly. I've had Global Entry for a while. You will need to submit to a background check, and have your picture and fingerprints taken. Expedited entry to the US when coming back from overseas is the main reason I have it. SENTRI and TSA pre-check are nice bonuses that come with it.
• mjx01

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  8 years ago

  If I recall correctly, SENTRI (and NEXUS) application sites are only located near their respective boarders. Global Entry interview locations are in far more places.
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  MJX, I did my Global Entry interview at the Tijuana border, but because the Global Entry is used for entry into the USA from most international airports in the USA, it makes perfect sense to me they'd need to do the interviews at or near those same airports.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  WetWilly, I would presume then that to get this special status, one has to disclose a great deal of information to the authorities, which gets into what they do for a living, where their money comes from, and why they would want to be going to Mexico regularly. You would be telling them things which are on your tax return and then also go beyond this. You would be telling them things which would be impractical or impossible for them to quickly discover via a routine border crossing check. Our TJ expert nemesisk7 wrote, "why would i wanna go back if mexico is pussy heaven ?" Yes indeed: [view link] Mexico a land of magical realism. It's very dangerous for American guys to go there. No telling how many have stayed the night and never come back, because when they woke up they found themselves covered with brown fur. [view link] SJG Janis Joplin - Piece Of My Heart [view link]
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  SJG, As my original article said, this is part of a program called the Trusted Traveler program. As the other card holder who posted above has affirmed, there is a background check with either the Global Entry and SENTRI cards, including enough information for them to do a Felony search using name, aliases, SSN, current and prior addresses, etc. .They did not do a verification of employment, but I did give them the name of my employer. To me, this is not a huge amount of information, since they already have most of it associated with my US Passport Total cost per year is about the same as a lap dance. I don't recommend this for anyone with Felony convictions in their past.
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  SJG, I forgot to add, you now need a Visa from the Mexican government, along with a US Passport (except in very rare situations), to do a " routine " border crossing in Tijuana, so if someone is going both into and out of Mexico to the Zona Norte, he/she is already most of the way toward providing 80-90 % of this information. The new Mexican border crossing regulations for US Citizens has changed radically in the past 6 months, and therefore any semblance of routine crossings is gone.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Sounds good to me. I understand that the feds could get all this info if they wanted anyway. But as someone who hopes to be doing biz in Mexico regularly, as well as taking full advantage of all that if offers, I will plan to go that way. Ever have any experience bringing motor vehicles into Mexico, or driving further along on their highways? Thanks, for the info. SJG [view link]
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  SCG: Honestly, if I were going to be doing business in Mexico regularly, this is one of the first purchases I'd make. But maybe this is just me. My experience in driving in Mexico, even though both the SENTRI and Global Entry cards allow the registration of a vehicle, and have a separate lane labeled SENTRI, is not familiar to me. My car has a sports suspension, and due to the reputation of many roads in Northern Mexico, I chose not to register or drive my car there. That being said, the Tollways have a much, much, better reputation than virtually any other type of road. The borders and lines in and out of Tijuana are undergoing huge improvements, the airport in TJ is far easier to get to than anytime in the past, and it is therefore tough to give any details which are not going to be outdated in 2-3 months. Because of the many improvements, I'll refrain from offering any details at this time, but generally, it is all good news for people crossing the border. The first time you cross into Mexico, take your US Passport and or Passport card and buy a 180 day Mexican VISA--that gets you legal access to most parts of Northern Mexico, whereas the 7 day VISA gets you legal access to only Tijuana. The 180 day Mexican VISA costs only $20. I am happy to answer additional questions, as appropriate.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Thanks SJG
• JamesSD

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  8 years ago

  We're probably only a couple years away from facial scans of everyone who crosses the border.
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  JamesSD: With the 120 murders in Tijuana since Jan 1, maybe that's a good thing! All kidding aside, I think you may be right, Both Federal Governments have spent fortunes on this border in the past 2-3 years, and it does not seem to be slowing at all, so what is the next step? The way I see it, Mexico decided to get serious about eliminating the US Felons who come across their International border, and facial scans are likely not that expensive.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Yes, easy access to TJ is extremely appealing! :) SJG
• rogertex

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  8 years ago

  Great article. Useful info. Totally worth it even if you make one visit to Tijuana. (It's on my list) Entry through airports is getting quicker and quicker even without Global Entry. Kiosks are setup for reading passport and the computer gives out a form that the immigration officer collects while you keep walking. Papi - Sentri is cheaper than Coyote! though Jackslash has the cheapest and fastest re-entry method with the added thrill of escaping gunshots while climbing the fence.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Willy, When you apply for this Global Entry special access card and disclose your information, do they also ask you why you want to be going to Mexico regularly? Just curious, what do you tell them? Also, do they box you in to one area, like if you wanted to be crossing at multiple locations and visiting multiple cities, like say, TJ, Mexicali, and San Luis Rio Colorado, do you need to plan on that when you give then your information? For myself, when dealing with law enforcement here, and they ask me what I am doing or why I am at some place, I have always found it best to have a prepared answer, rather than just refusing to tell them.. They are not used to people who refuse to answer questions. But what I tell them must never ever be something which they could prove to be false. A little bit of playing dumb and docile usually helps too. SJG [view link] [view link] [view link] [view link] [view link]
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  SJG, Global Entry is primarily international air travel, with Mexico just one of 180 countries. SENTRI may be what you're asking about, which is land crossings in North America only. In Tijuana, they share a priority line, because they are the top level of security. Other than that, they are completely different as described above. If you are asking only about crossing into Mexico, and not about the Global Entry card, then their questions are going to be Mexico and Canada specific. When I did the in person interview for my Global Entry card near the Tijuana border, I told the guy I'd been to 60 countries and my primary interest was in the 120 countries I'don't not yet visited. The interview happened at the TJ Immigration office, but I made it clear Mexican was tangential or coincidental. BTW, in the 10 minute interview I did, we direct only 30 seconds talking about countries. I showed him my Passport, with stamped VISAS in the Cyrillic alphabet, page after page, and he realized Mexican land crossings were not my interests, so he switched gears and spent the interview training me how to use the Global Entry card in the kiosks I'd likely find around the globe. In that way, I avoided any questions about Mexico. So rather than answer questions about the Mexican land border crossing purpose only, do you have a strong interest in the Global Entry, or SENTRI? I can address either, just trying to understand your interests.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  Okay, so I understand now about it being SENTRI which pertains to North American land crossings. And yes, I'm only inquiring pertaining to Mexico. As you can see, I'm starting here with zero knowledge of such matters. But when you talked about your visits to all of these other countries, were you just throwing them off the scent, giving them a cover story? And about your visits to the 60 countries, I would not think you would be telling them anything provably false? Your knowledge of these matters is much appreciated on this forum. We don't get enough info about Mexican strip clubs, and we get none about border crossing and foreign travel issues. My own true story about why I would want to be going into Mexico would be about expanding a business, and that would be verifiable truth. Paper records would document what I'd be saying, and I would have had prior communications with Mexican nationals which I would be prepared to disclose to them. But that I would be spending my nights with their P4P women and starting out my Mexican explorations in their various red light districts are things I would not care to disclose to them. SJG [view link]
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  I have visited 60 countries, so I was simply sharing my core interests and background with the Immigration official. Even with my Passport's page additions, but all those countries are not within the Passport I carry -- when he saw pages of VISAS in Cyrillic, we automatically knew my core interest was not to go to Tijuana's Zona Norte. Keep in mind, by the time he sat me down for the actual interview, he already knew my background was spotless, so he spent just a few seconds confirming and then shifted to the post approval training. That being said, I showed him that travel background for a specific reason, to take the conversation away from exactly what you and I are discussing. I use the card for all purposes, and didn't want to get hung up on Tijuana's features. So the short answer to your question is yes, as I didn't want to get hung up on Tijuana when he is probably very familiar with guys doing sex runs across the border--his border :-) In fact, when he approved my application I immediately went across the border to the Zona Norte and fucked a SG:-) I enter the Global Entry card number into my airline profiles, and any tickets print with the highly valued TSA Pre check, for both domestic and international flights. The goal I've anyways had was time savings while traveling, and that Global Entry card is useful at every turn.
• san_jose_guy

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  8 years ago

  SG? Street Girl? So you like TJ Street Girls. So far no one here has been willing to admit to that. They are very interesting to me, mostly because they are free agents, and also because alcohol should be less of a factor. Where do you take them, to the hotel they usually use? How about to the Jacuzzi rooms over the HK Bar or the Tropical, so you might spend more time with them? The HK Bar is known for Front Room GFE. I look at this as more than just test driving, it's more like how you get to know a girl some first. I wouldn't think you can get GFE friendly with girls out on the sidewalk. Are their any bars they pop into where you can engage with them, instead of just out on the sidewalk? Ever take one of them to lunch first, for a fee of course, just to get to know her, and also because you might be spending more time with her? So I understand now, you said nothing false, you did have a long record of purposeful travels, and you did not advertise TJ's Zona, although it was to be your first stop. :) You are extremely well traveled. Impressive. I'm the exact opposite. Long term marriage and career requirements. Still have 24-7 local obligations. SJG
• tcp

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  8 years ago

  Prior to 9/11, the border crossing, even in TJ was done in minutes, It has increasingly gotten longer due to increasing restrictions and closer scrutiny of ALL people coming into the US. I remember in a time you just crossed into the US and every once and a while a Border Agent may ask for an ID. A littlr later, you would have to state your nationality ( but not show an ID) then you needed an ID (a drivers license would do) and now you are required to have a US government issued ID (like as passport card) to go between the border. Several years ago there were two lines to get into the US in TJ, one was for non-us citizens and the other was for US citizens who had a passport/a Sentri pass or Global Entry. Almost immediately The non US citizens took over the "US documentation" line" causing thos without knowledge to wait forever in one of the two lines. You DO NOT have to wait in line on the Mexican Side of the border entry. Since all the new construction and even several years before, I simply walk to the fron of the line where the actual US border entry is. If you take one of the Red Coaches, it will drop you off at that same spot. Once you are at the US point of entry (inside the gate) make sure you show your Passport or US passport card and they wave you in in groups if it is real busy and they have the private security working, or a single US border patrol agent to waive you through if it is not busy. The place I'm talking is the iron gates in front of the old US Customs Bldg. That is actually the border. The customs and immigration building will then have several lines. If you have a SENTRI of Global Entry, you can simply go down that aisle as there are rarely any lines, otherwise once you are in the Immigration bldg yo just pick an aisle and stand in line. I have never stood in line for more than 20 minutes, even on the most crowded days or holidays, even a Sunday afternoon. Apparently the US customs and Immigration does not make that knowledge readily available, as when the US found out that this agreement between the US and Mexico(on the for US Citizens and even non US green card holders having a separate queue for entry) as the queue on the Mexican side was being ignored, the Mexican Government made no effort to enforce and when the US started pointing this out publicly, the Mexican Gov, got really upset. So the US dropped the matter. I have been crossing the US/Mexico for over 40 years. I am an US citizen (anglo) and I continue to ignore the line that backs up from the US gate. Most of the time I just walk to the front. I have never been stopped by any Mexican authorities and when I get to the "gate" I just waive my passport card and I am just waived in. NEVER, NEVER wait in the line with the rest of the Mexican for la linea, go directly to the front, The line is for Mexicans who have a visa or pass or those with a foreign passport or suckers..
• WetWilly

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  8 years ago

  For those interested, here is a third party site (not the US Government, Customs and Border Patrole, etc) which describes some of the details. [view link]
• PutaTester

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  8 years ago

  I recently acquired a Global Entry card, motivated primarily by comments on this site and others. Well worth the time, money, and effort. One issue I had is that I live in the SF Bay area. Getting an appointment at the local office was a four-month+ wait! I made an appointment at the Otay Mesa office about two weeks after I received my approval. My thought was the flight to San Diego was reasonably priced (Southwest) and I had a lot of European travel planned in that four-month window. So I planned a couple of days to complete the interview process and as long as I was there, make my first journey to Tijuana. Despite having an appointment, it was still about an hour before I was interviewed. The appointment was at 10:30 am. I arrived about 9:30 am, because I did not want to chance missing the appointment due to traffic or some other confusion. There were some instructions on the web site about not using a GPS, where to park, and so forth. I hung out and read a bit in the car, to avoid arriving too early, which was a bit of a mistake. I entered the office just before 10:00 and there were about 30 people waiting. (Shades of the DMV.) I said I had a 10:30 appointment, which seemed to be of no consequence. The woman took my passport, had me fill out a simple form, and told me to wait. An hour later I was called up. The interviewer was clearly a sworn boarder patrol officer, which I thought was a bit of a waste of talent. Initially he was very business-like and matter-of-fact. Asked me a couple of basic questions about travel plans. I told him that in addition to visiting Mexico, I planned to travel to several European countries. (I recently renewed my passport, so there were no stamps to confirm past travel.) Asked to see my ID from my employer. He took fingerprints and a (very bad) photo. His attitude shifted after saying that he would approve my application. He showed me what the Global Access card would look like and how to use it. Then we started to chat about my plans for later that day. I told him I was going to tour the USS Midway and he recommended a restaurant in the area. One of the interesting things he mentioned is that the Otay Mesa office never stops taking appointments. Some offices are so busy that they stop taking appointments. We run two shifts and often get people from out of the area that do not want to wait months for an appointment locally. I did visit the USS Midway, which was very interesting and that afternoon I went to Tijuana for a few hours for the first time. Definitely worth all the effort just for Tijuana! And if I get through security easier while traveling in Europe this summer, bonus!